Rebel Rocket Downs Soviet Plane

30 Die

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- A Soviet plane was shot down by a rocket fired by guerrillas immediately after takeoff from eastern Afghanistan Monday, killing at least 30 people, news reports said.

The rebel Afghan Islamic Press reported the Antonov 26 was shot down after it took off from Khost airport near the border with Pakistan. Radio Kabul, monitored in Islamabad, confirmed the report.

There were conflicting reports on how many people were aboard the plane. The Soviet news agency Tass said the dead included women and children. Afghan rebel sources said 15 Afghan army officers, 20 soldiers and six crew members died. Radio Kabul said the crash killed ``all 30 occupants, including children, women, old men and six crew.``

But Western diplomats say the airport in Khost, 15 miles from the Pakistani border, has only been used for military flights because of concerns rebels in the area have shoulder-fired heat-seeking Stinger missiles.

The Moslem guerrillas trying to oust the Soviet-backed communist regime in Kabul recently reportedly obtaining U.S.-made Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to help in their 7-year-old war.